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Manual Citrus Juicers
The Amco Houseworks Lemon Squeezer has long been our favorite manual citrus juicer. But when we started replacing kitchen copies every couple of months because of worn or chipped enamel, we wondered if there was something more durable that we would like equally well.
Top Pick
WinnerChef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer
Distinct from citrus presses that use small holes, this model features a star-like arrangement of large draining slots, which direct the juice in a steady stream with no splattering or overflowing. Its large, rounded handles were easy to squeeze for testers of all sizes, which helped this press quickly extract far more juice than any other model. Its roomy bowl could also accommodate up to medium-size oranges (but not large ones).
Model Number: 102-159-017Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $23.04
Distinct from citrus presses that use small holes, this model features a star-like arrangement of large draining slots, which direct the juice in a steady stream with no splattering or overflowing. Its large, rounded handles were easy to squeeze for testers of all sizes, which helped this press quickly extract far more juice than any other model. Its roomy bowl could also accommodate up to medium-size oranges (but not large ones).
Model Number: 102-159-017Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $23.04
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What You Need to Know
The Amco Houseworks Lemon Squeezer has long been our favorite manual citrus juicer. But when we started replacing kitchen copies every couple of months because of worn or chipped enamel, we wondered if there was something more durable that we would like equally well. We tried 12 models, priced from $5.99 to $23.04, in a variety of styles: countertop reamers, handheld reamers, and presses. We rounded up righties and lefties with small and large hands to put the juicers through their paces. The ability to efficiently juice lemons and limes was a must, but models received bonus points if they could also handle medium and large oranges. We juiced at least 50 pieces of fruit with each model. Handheld reamers performed the worst. While some testers thought these compact, knob-like tools worked quickly and were easy to clean, most lamented that they sprayed juice all over their hands and dropped seeds into the juice. Worse, they were inefficient, collecting on average 30 percent less juice than the top-performing press style. Tabletop reamers fared somewhat better, eliminating the mess with their built-in collection bowls and seed grates. Unfortunately, the extra parts also meant more to disassemble and clean—not ideal when you only need a few tablespoons of juice. While we liked a few tabletop reamers with less fussy designs, this style produced an average of 17 percent less juice than press juicers, which, in general, we preferred above all.
Press-style models quickly trapped seeds and extracted the most juice with minimal effort. Their one flaw: Some smaller models had trouble accommodating large lemons (though most fruits could be quartered into smaller pieces that fit). Our favorite, the Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer ($23.04), was the most accommodating of the bunch and could even fit medium-size oranges with ease. It extracted far and away the most juice of any model in the lineup. Its larger, slat-like holes were also more efficient, draining the most juice without splattering or overflowing. Plus, it’s durable: Its tough plastic exterior showed no signs of wear, even after squeezing more than 200 pieces of fruit.
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Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
WinnerChef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer
Distinct from citrus presses that use small holes, this model features a star-like arrangement of large draining slots, which direct the juice in a steady stream with no splattering or overflowing. Its large, rounded handles were easy to squeeze for testers of all sizes, which helped this press quickly extract far more juice than any other model. Its roomy bowl could also accommodate up to medium-size oranges (but not large ones).
Model Number: 102-159-017Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $23.04
Distinct from citrus presses that use small holes, this model features a star-like arrangement of large draining slots, which direct the juice in a steady stream with no splattering or overflowing. Its large, rounded handles were easy to squeeze for testers of all sizes, which helped this press quickly extract far more juice than any other model. Its roomy bowl could also accommodate up to medium-size oranges (but not large ones).
Model Number: 102-159-017Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $23.04
Recommended
Prepara The Juiciest Juicer
Testers who prefer more stability liked this simple countertop model, which features a tapered reamer set in a glass bowl. Its pointed reamer was perfectly sized to hug the curves of all types of citrus, and its roomy collection bowl held a little over a cup of juice. While it had more parts to clean and still didn’t get out as much juice as press-style squeezers, some testers thought a few teaspoons less juice was a fair trade-off for its sleek, comfortable, easy-to-use design.
Model Number: PP07-JUSYLXStyle: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $14.63
Testers who prefer more stability liked this simple countertop model, which features a tapered reamer set in a glass bowl. Its pointed reamer was perfectly sized to hug the curves of all types of citrus, and its roomy collection bowl held a little over a cup of juice. While it had more parts to clean and still didn’t get out as much juice as press-style squeezers, some testers thought a few teaspoons less juice was a fair trade-off for its sleek, comfortable, easy-to-use design.
Model Number: PP07-JUSYLXStyle: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $14.63
Amco Houseworks Lemon Squeezer
Our old favorite manual juicer, this press was efficient and speedy, removing lots of juice with minimal effort. It lost points for its thinner handles, which testers thought weren’t as comfortable to squeeze, and for its smaller bowl, which could fit fruit no larger than a medium-size lemon. Though the testing juicer still looked good after squeezing 100 pieces of citrus, we’ve seen from past use that this juicer’s enamel is prone to chipping.
Model Number: 8565Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $10.20
Our old favorite manual juicer, this press was efficient and speedy, removing lots of juice with minimal effort. It lost points for its thinner handles, which testers thought weren’t as comfortable to squeeze, and for its smaller bowl, which could fit fruit no larger than a medium-size lemon. Though the testing juicer still looked good after squeezing 100 pieces of citrus, we’ve seen from past use that this juicer’s enamel is prone to chipping.
Model Number: 8565Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $10.20
OXO Good Grips Citrus Squeezer
This metal model was among the most comfortable to hold and squeeze. It easily caught seeds and was effortless to clean, but its smaller bowl had trouble fitting larger citrus. If the fruit wasn’t placed perfectly in the squeezer, a raised bump in the draining bowl would sometimes spray juice back onto the tester. Still, it managed to get out plenty of juice quickly.
Model Number: 1057962V1Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $15.99
This metal model was among the most comfortable to hold and squeeze. It easily caught seeds and was effortless to clean, but its smaller bowl had trouble fitting larger citrus. If the fruit wasn’t placed perfectly in the squeezer, a raised bump in the draining bowl would sometimes spray juice back onto the tester. Still, it managed to get out plenty of juice quickly.
Model Number: 1057962V1Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $15.99
OXO Good Grips Citrus Juicer
This countertop model features two different reamers, supposedly for different sizes of citrus. The larger reamer proved superfluous, as it was too big for any fruit we tried with it. That wasn’t the case for the smaller reamer. It was sufficient for everything but the smallest limes (even oranges worked well). The pointed tip on the reamer managed to extract lots of juice (though it sometimes picked up pieces of pith and pulp), and its draining grate easily caught seeds. Best of all, you could pour from its built-in spout without having to disassemble the juicer. Some testers disliked that its many parts were fussy to clean.
Model Number: 34781V1Style: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $14.99
This countertop model features two different reamers, supposedly for different sizes of citrus. The larger reamer proved superfluous, as it was too big for any fruit we tried with it. That wasn’t the case for the smaller reamer. It was sufficient for everything but the smallest limes (even oranges worked well). The pointed tip on the reamer managed to extract lots of juice (though it sometimes picked up pieces of pith and pulp), and its draining grate easily caught seeds. Best of all, you could pour from its built-in spout without having to disassemble the juicer. Some testers disliked that its many parts were fussy to clean.
Model Number: 34781V1Style: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $14.99
Recommended with reservations
Chef’n Juicester
The largest juicer in our lineup, this tall reamer is capable of holding up to a generous 1 1/2 cups of juice. Unfortunately, its tall, thin frame needed to be held with one hand to steady the base during squeezing, and its hourglass shape was difficult to reach into for cleaning. Still, it worked quickly and efficiently, extracting as much juice as press models. A few testers noted that its rounder reamer was not ideal for small limes.
Model Number: N/AStyle: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $14.99
The largest juicer in our lineup, this tall reamer is capable of holding up to a generous 1 1/2 cups of juice. Unfortunately, its tall, thin frame needed to be held with one hand to steady the base during squeezing, and its hourglass shape was difficult to reach into for cleaning. Still, it worked quickly and efficiently, extracting as much juice as press models. A few testers noted that its rounder reamer was not ideal for small limes.
Model Number: N/AStyle: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $14.99
BTipsy Stainless Steel Jumbo Lemon Squeezer (Grade 304)
Despite its large frame, this metal squeezer was too small to fit most lemons unless they were quartered. With the smaller pieces, this press worked easily, catching seeds and extracting plenty of juice. Still, the extra cutting step was more work, and some thought its flat metal handles were uncomfortable to hold.
Model Number: BT-001Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $19.79
Despite its large frame, this metal squeezer was too small to fit most lemons unless they were quartered. With the smaller pieces, this press worked easily, catching seeds and extracting plenty of juice. Still, the extra cutting step was more work, and some thought its flat metal handles were uncomfortable to hold.
Model Number: BT-001Style: PressDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $19.79
OXO Good Grips Wooden Reamer
While most testers agreed that this small wooden reamer worked quickly and was effortless to clean, many complained that juice ran down their hands as they squeezed and seeds needed to be picked out of the juice. It was also inefficient, extracting an average of 30 percent less juice from both lemons and limes than top-ranked models. Still, it’s not a bad choice for cooks who appreciate the convenience of a juicer that fits in a drawer.
Model Number: 1064758Style: Handheld reamerDishwasher-Safe: NoPrice at Time of Testing: $5.99
While most testers agreed that this small wooden reamer worked quickly and was effortless to clean, many complained that juice ran down their hands as they squeezed and seeds needed to be picked out of the juice. It was also inefficient, extracting an average of 30 percent less juice from both lemons and limes than top-ranked models. Still, it’s not a bad choice for cooks who appreciate the convenience of a juicer that fits in a drawer.
Model Number: 1064758Style: Handheld reamerDishwasher-Safe: NoPrice at Time of Testing: $5.99
Not Recommended
Joseph Joseph “Catcher” Citrus Reamer
This handheld reamer has a piece of plastic jutting out from the side that’s meant to catch rogue seeds. It’s a clever idea in theory, but the reamer had to be held upright for the seed catcher to work, causing juice to run down testers’ arms. When held normally, the seed catcher just got in the way of our hands, making it harder to extract the juice.
Model Number: (green) REAG0100AS, (gray)REAM0100ASStyle: Handheld reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $9.00
This handheld reamer has a piece of plastic jutting out from the side that’s meant to catch rogue seeds. It’s a clever idea in theory, but the reamer had to be held upright for the seed catcher to work, causing juice to run down testers’ arms. When held normally, the seed catcher just got in the way of our hands, making it harder to extract the juice.
Model Number: (green) REAG0100AS, (gray)REAM0100ASStyle: Handheld reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $9.00
Prepworks Citrus Juicer
This model had a thin, circular base that tipped precariously as we attempted to squeeze citrus. Its oversized, rounded reamer was too gentle on fruit and failed to extract juice unless we pushed really hard, especially with smaller pieces of fruit. Compared to its oversized reamer, the collection bowl was comically small and could only contain 1/4 cup of juice without threatening to overflow.
Model Number: CJ-3Style: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $5.99
This model had a thin, circular base that tipped precariously as we attempted to squeeze citrus. Its oversized, rounded reamer was too gentle on fruit and failed to extract juice unless we pushed really hard, especially with smaller pieces of fruit. Compared to its oversized reamer, the collection bowl was comically small and could only contain 1/4 cup of juice without threatening to overflow.
Model Number: CJ-3Style: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $5.99
Citrisqueeze
This quirky tool features a pour spout that screws into a whole, uncut piece of citrus, which is then squeezed to extract juice. While it fit every piece of fruit easily and caught seeds, it took two hands and forceful effort to squeeze out just a few tablespoons of juice. After 5 minutes of squeezing, most juice still remained in the fruit, and the thin tube spout got jammed with pulp.
Model Number: N/AStyle: Twister-pour spoutDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $8.99
This quirky tool features a pour spout that screws into a whole, uncut piece of citrus, which is then squeezed to extract juice. While it fit every piece of fruit easily and caught seeds, it took two hands and forceful effort to squeeze out just a few tablespoons of juice. After 5 minutes of squeezing, most juice still remained in the fruit, and the thin tube spout got jammed with pulp.
Model Number: N/AStyle: Twister-pour spoutDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $8.99
Joie Lemon Juicer
This tiny juicer’s bowl could barely contain the juice of one lime without overflowing. Its small reamer hardly made a dent, even in small lemons and limes, and seeds quickly jammed its tiny drain, causing spills. Its hard plastic parts were difficult to detach for cleaning, and we had trouble reaching into the minuscule crevices with our fingers to remove pulp.
Model Number: 29403Style: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $6.58
This tiny juicer’s bowl could barely contain the juice of one lime without overflowing. Its small reamer hardly made a dent, even in small lemons and limes, and seeds quickly jammed its tiny drain, causing spills. Its hard plastic parts were difficult to detach for cleaning, and we had trouble reaching into the minuscule crevices with our fingers to remove pulp.
Model Number: 29403Style: Countertop reamerDishwasher-Safe: YesPrice at Time of Testing: $6.58
*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.
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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!
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